Sophia: Hello Doctor, I have had a mole on my leg for a long time, but it seems to me that its size has increased. And since one of my aunts recently had a large mole removed which turned out to be be a malignant melanomaI am very anxious.
Dr. Martine Perez: I would like to tell you right away that, in the vast majority of cases, malignant melanomas are not of genetic origin. So, how long have you had this mole? Since when did you notice that he had gained weight?
Sophia: I think I’ve always had this mole, but I hadn’t really paid attention to it until now. After learning about what happened to my aunt, I took a closer look at my moles and I feel like this one was smaller before and has gotten bigger over the past few months.
Dr. Martine Perez: Let’s take a closer look. Could you first show me the mole on the leg? … Yes I see. It is obviously a simple nevus, that is to say really a mole. It is very round, flat, of homogeneous color, not very big, it measures 4 millimeters in diameter. There is no reason to worry. He shows no signs of malignancy.
However, I will take a picture of it. This will allow us to see if it changes appearance over the next few weeks. Also, I will examine you completely to see if you have any other potentially problematic moles, especially in areas that you cannot see yourself, such as your back, buttocks or scalp.
Sophia: So you don’t see anything?
Dr. Martine Perez: You have a few small moles on your back that are not abnormal. So nothing to worry about. But, at each consultation, including for another reason, do not hesitate to show me your moles at least once a year.
Sophia: Is there a way to protect against malignant melanoma?
Dr. Martine Perez: The main risk factor is the sun, especially sunburn in childhood, but not only. As your skin is very white, therefore fragile, I recommend that you protect yourself well from the sun. That is to say, do not expose yourself to the hottest hours in the summer, put sunscreen with a high protection factor on uncovered areas. And don’t hesitate to wear long-sleeved shirts and light pants in the summer. In addition, ultraviolet sessions in the cabin increase the risk of malignant melanoma and are therefore strongly discouraged. Protecting yourself from the sun reduces the risk of all skin cancers and also helps to limit skin aging. The sun is the main factor in skin aging.
What you need to know about melanoma
Melanoma is one of the most serious skin cancers when not caught in time. On the other hand, the cure rate approaches 100%, when treated at an early stage. You must therefore consult a doctor if, on your skin, a brown spot appears which grows rapidly (melanomas often have a diameter greater than 6 mm), of uneven color (mixing black, brown, pink, etc.) with edges irregular, and asymmetrical in appearance.
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Read also :
- Skin cancer: new effective treatments
- Moles: the questions you don’t dare ask the dermatologist
- Infographic: the places in the body where melanoma hides
